Social Media Anti-Vaping Messages to Reduce ENDS Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Teens

Description

The investigators long-term goal is to reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related health disparities among SGM populations. The objective of Project SMART (Social Media Anti-Vaping Messages to Reduce ENDS Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Teens) is to evaluate the effectiveness of an sexual gender minority (SGM) -tailored social media intervention to prevent vaping initiation among SGM youth ages 13-20 years. The investigators central hypothesis is that SGM-tailored anti-vaping social media messages will be more effective than existing non-tailored messages to prevent vaping initiation among SGM youth. The scientific premise for this work is based on principles of cultural tailoring in health communication for vulnerable populations, the Health Equity Promotion Model, and the Message Impact Framework. The investigators are developing and evaluating a social media intervention because SGM youth have a high rate of social media use and are more likely to go online for health information than non-SGM youth. Social media, moreover, are increasingly used for health promotion to address health disparities and well-being of SGM populations. The investigators will conduct rapid-cycle feedback with stakeholders including SGM organization leaders to provide input on the message design, testing, and intervention implementation to ensure feasibility and acceptability of the intervention.

Conditions

Vaping, Adolescent Behavior, Communication Research

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

The investigators long-term goal is to reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related health disparities among SGM populations. The objective of Project SMART (Social Media Anti-Vaping Messages to Reduce ENDS Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Teens) is to evaluate the effectiveness of an sexual gender minority (SGM) -tailored social media intervention to prevent vaping initiation among SGM youth ages 13-20 years. The investigators central hypothesis is that SGM-tailored anti-vaping social media messages will be more effective than existing non-tailored messages to prevent vaping initiation among SGM youth. The scientific premise for this work is based on principles of cultural tailoring in health communication for vulnerable populations, the Health Equity Promotion Model, and the Message Impact Framework. The investigators are developing and evaluating a social media intervention because SGM youth have a high rate of social media use and are more likely to go online for health information than non-SGM youth. Social media, moreover, are increasingly used for health promotion to address health disparities and well-being of SGM populations. The investigators will conduct rapid-cycle feedback with stakeholders including SGM organization leaders to provide input on the message design, testing, and intervention implementation to ensure feasibility and acceptability of the intervention.

SMART: Social Media Anti-Vaping Messages to Reduce ENDS Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Teens

Social Media Anti-Vaping Messages to Reduce ENDS Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Teens

Condition
Vaping
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Philadelphia

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Identify as SGM
  • * ages 13-20
  • * not vaped or used other tobacco products in the past 30 days
  • * have access to a smartphone
  • * Able to read and speak in English
  • * willing to receive messages via texting for the study
  • * susceptible to e-cigarette use at intake (i.e., those do not state "definitely not" to all three susceptibility questions).
  • * Current vapers
  • * Non-SGM youth

Ages Eligible for Study

13 Years to 20 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine,

Study Record Dates

2025-12-31